Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-01-09
Cny,str,as Festivities Among sh
ChiIarss 81 Old ~. Johns.
sFor the Dispatch.l

"A. Johns has four SUNDAY scnooIs-the
n.y,sh school, under the superintendent
~ CAPTAIN J. r. Mayer; Calvary Mission,
vbieh meets at Nineteenth and Main streets,
sergeant b. +. Howard, superintendent;
Weddell-Memorial Mission, Fulton, Mr..
w. 4. Blankenship. superintendent; and 4
colored school, called the Good shepherd,
u bIcb gathers in the brick schoolhouse In
the church.yard, superinhnded by MI. r.
y. Gretter. All four OF these schools as
sembled in full force the Sunday after
Christmas In II. Johns church. here
unique programme was followed, winch
called for texts OF Scripture, now from the
rector. again from the four supetintend-
ents, still again from the other officers ana
teachers. Al one time each OF the schools
in turn would come ont boldly In ITS rect
tstion, to be followed by the whole congre-
cation IN unison.
Az the service bad for is theme "Christ
IL the Light OF the World" In the course
of it a glisteniug star very ingeniously
was made 10 come out OF the east and guide
10 its place beneath the sounding-Doard.
In front OF the chaucel there were taste
fully. arranged banners bearing each OF
them a letter Of the greeting which VIII
never grow old or sound hollow-hearted:
"Merry Christmas"
81. Johns, in all its century ana hah Oh
existence, has not heard singing more
hearty and expressive than rang on this
day beneath its roof.tree, in which could
be recognized the assistance OF the faithful
and efficient choir OF the church. Every
body was encouraged by hearing Mr.. ii. r.
w. Southern report, as general secretary,
that there were enrolled In the four schools
10 officers, Gj teachers, and $50 scholars
total OF $50.
MIR. Thomas Potts, who twenty-five years
ago that day bad entered II. Johns school,
spoke tenderly OF the past. and after con-
graduating the church on its steady al
vance through all those years, in an inter
esting manner continued the dominating
thought Of the service by telling what the
Psalmlst meant when he said, "Thy Word
Is lamp unto my feet and light uoto my
path"
he collection was for the Weddel-me-
mortal building fund.
The +" flow Of Souin in the Christmas fes.
tiyal was reserved for the weekdays follow
ing. Calvary Mission began by sitting
down-frst. one hundred scholars, and
then twenty-five or thirty workers to two
long, bountliully. provided tables IN Mas0ns'
Hail. Weddeli Mission followed the next
evening with a tree full Of toys, and bag
OF canGy and handful Of fruit for each
child of the many that packed its room.
The parish school was kept on tlpioe OF
expectation bv mysterious preparations
which had IN secret, but very busily, been
going on. All but hali-a-dOzeu or 80 OF the
workers were taken completely by surprise
To find the platform transformed into the
perfect repre sentatiOn OF the interior OF an
ancient country sitting-rOOm, with WIDE
chimney and fireplace for its principal lea
ture. This found its explanation after the
superintendent. Captain Mayer, had read
the legend Of IT. Nicholas and letter
from Santa Claus, in the distant
iinglin0 OF sleigh-belis and cracking Of the
whip, and in the speedy arrival OF the
blessed old saint in the person OF Mr. +.
p, Gretter, and his colored man " Moses"
alias Mr. j. T. II. Estes, both OF them
gotten up TO perfection. BY their lavish
provision the superintendent was able TO
give generous cornucOpia OF candy and
beautiful Christmas card to every officer
and scholar.
Old Santa himself (Mr. Gretter) was
dumbfoundcd by the unusual turn affairs
took when Mr.. Mayer, n the name Of the
church, presented him with a picture
(Cbrist In The Iemple), IN appreciation OF
the skill and labor freely given for many
yeaIs at Christmas and Easter.
The climax was capped when, on Mon
day last. the c0Ored school was gathered
before the SAME scene. and the arrival OF
st. Nicholas, persOnated by Mr.. Nat. Ilar-
rison, brought every black boy and girl to
their feet in agitation. And the whole All
dience thereafter was kept In a wide grin
BY the comic antics Of his cOloTed attend
ant, who was Captain J. +. Mayer IN dis
gmse. This fun had been preceded by an
appropriate religious service, in the course
Of which Rev. Mr.. Wny, OF Centenary Meth
Odist Episcopal church, relative Of
the superintendent, gave the school eN-
celIent advice and a stirring eXhortatlon
No school Jared go substantially as this.
Mrs. j. VI. Estes, the patrOnss, had in
terested kind friends in the North, and the
result was an abouDding assortment Of
things both useful and ornamental, which
made the little darkies' eyes roll in wonder
and delight.
Everybodyit II. Johns schools (eyen the
few who worked so hard aud long 10 make
the whole festival the success IL was) are !
eager to have Christmas come soon again. |